FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
NRAC: BLM proposes 2-
million-acre designation in
Oregon to protect Sage-Grouse
• MEMBER KERNS
CONCERNED
ABOUT FUTURE
COORDINATION
MEETING WITH THE
OREGON
DEPARTMENT OF
FORESTRY
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County
Natural Resource Advisory
Committee (NRAC) met
on Tuesday, November
17, 2015, at 3 p.m., in the
Commission Chambers of
the Courthouse, joined by
Jason Spriet, Oregon Water
Resources Department
(OWRD) Eastern Region
Manager.
Present were NRAC
Chair Doni Bruland,
NRAC Coordinator Eric
Wuntz, and NRAC mem-
bers Ken Anderson, Jan
Kerns, Cynthia Long, Lyle
Defrees, Eileen Gyllen-
berg, Chuck Chase, Kody
Justus, Jan Alexander,
Alice Knapp, George Keis-
ter, Laurene Chapman, and
Craig Ward. Also in atten-
dance was Craig Bruland,
the sole representation for
the public.
Doni Bruland brought
the meeting to order, and
passed out copies of the
agenda, and reminded
those present that the
Oregon Department of For-
estry (ODF) coordination
government-to-government
meeting with the County
Commissioners will be
held on Tuesday, Novem-
ber 24, at 9 a.m., in the
Commission Chambers of
the County Courthouse.
Kerns expressed con-
cerns about the coordina-
tion meeting with ODF,
stating that the group lacks
experience with working
with ODF, and that there
don’t seem to be issues as-
sociated with the agency.
Wuntz responded that,
mainly, the discussion
would be regarding fire
prevention issues, and
Bruland said that ODF
would be bringing the
group up to speed about
what the agency is doing.
Champman voiced con-
cerns about the scheduling
of the ODF coordination
meeting, during Thanks-
giving week.
Bruland discussed with
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Jason Spriet of the Oregon Water Resources Department addressed the NRAC
on Tuesday.
the group the Bureau
of Land Management’s
(BLM) Notice of Pro-
posed Withdrawal to
designate about 19,000,000
acres of federal land—
about 2,000,000 of that in
Oregon, in Harney, Lake
and Malheur counties—as
“Sagebrush Focal Areas,”
which would prohibit all
new mining claims in the
same areas for the next
20 years, affecting miners
in Oregon, Idaho, Mon-
tana, Wyoming, Utah and
Nevada.
The BLM states that
the proposal is needed to
protect the Greater Sage-
Grouse from “adverse
affects of locatable mineral
exploration and mining.”
Doni said the comment
period deadline for this
proposal is December 23,
2015, and she and several
members expressed the
importance of submitting
comments.
Bruland asked for any
public input, and, there
was none noted, during
the initial segment of the
meeting.
The minutes from the
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
meeting were approved,
with a motion from Kerns,
and a second from Long.
Spriet was present to
speak to the committee
about the OWRD, first ex-
plaining the management
area, which is Baker, Har-
ney, Malheur, Union, and
Wallowa counties, with
the Eastern Region office
locate in Baker City. He
discussed a new OWRD
voluntary, place-based
planning program, which is
available to help commu-
nities with understanding
and meeting Oregon’s in-
stream and out-of-stream
water needs at the regional,
basin, or watershed level.
He said that $750,000 is
available to help imple-
ment the program.
Kerns noted that she
would scan the flyer with
details about the pro-
gram, and send copies to
members, and the group
expressed an interest in
participating.
Keister asked Spriet
about conflicts with water,
between residential use and
agricultural use, and Spriet
said occasionally, that‘s the
case.
Keister expressed
concerns about the avail-
able amount of water via
the City’s watershed, and
Spriet discussed this issue,
but he was unsure about
the amount, though, there
is a limit, he said.
Alexander asked whether
there is critical ground
water in Baker City, and,
Spriet said no, but there
is an area in Cow Valley.
Alexander asked about
possible reasons for the
State to deny new wells,
and Spriet said there could
be reasons such as con-
tamination, etc.
Bruland said she left the
Water and Water Rights
section on the agenda for
this meeting, primarily
because Spriet was present
to discuss any questions
regarding his input and ed-
its, however, there would
not be a vote on including
the section, because public
notice hadn‘t been submit-
ted yet.
Anderson initiated a
discussion on the topic of
mining, and his Mining
section proposal, first ex-
plaining the importance of
mining, and the impacts to
the local and other econo-
mies.
He voiced his concerns
regarding issues with
attempting to work with
the United States Forest
Service (USFS) and the
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and the
issues with mining regula-
tions.
Anderson discussed im-
provements made in min-
ing processes, job opportu-
nities, the large amount of
mineral deposits, and, the
need to improve general
opinions about mining.
He and Alexander de-
bated over mining permit
issuance time limits and
regulations, and Long
suggested that the USFS
be reminded to follow its
own regulations, and the
regulations don’t necessar-
ily need to be changed.
Alexander highlighted
concerns with time limits
and permits by stating that
miner Ed Hardt has been
waiting 15 years for a reso-
lution to issues regarding
his Plan of Operations.
Kerns made a motion
to ask Alexander to draft a
new Mining section which
will include references to
NEPA (National Environ-
mental Policy Act), where
applicable, and 228 (Title
36 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Subsection
228), with a second from
Long, and the motion car-
ried.
Bruland said that the
next NRAC meeting will
be held in January, because
the December meeting has
been canceled.
She said items on the
agenda will include a Min-
ing section discussion, and
a Water and Water Rights
section discussion.
The meeting is scheduled
for Tuesday, January 26, at
3 p.m., in the Commission
Chambers.
Huntington
man charged
with sex abuse
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The search of the house, garage and property contin-
ued until around 9:30 p.m. with not less than three law
enforcement vehicles outside the property at any given
time.
In the press release that was released as promised from
the Baker County Sheriff’s Department later that night,
Ash stated that Robert Lee Witter was charged with Sex
Abuse 1, which carries a full bail of $100,000, Furnishing
Sexually Explicit Material to a Minor (Luring a Minor)
with bail at $7,500 and Private Indecency, with bail also
at $7,500.
On Tuesday, November 17th at about 7:30 p.m., the
Baker County Sheriff’s search team again arrived at Wit-
ter’s residence with trailer in tow, and upon their arrival
escorted a woman and young boy, whose relationships to
Witter were not disclosed, from the home while deputies
again searched the house and grounds well into the night.
As the woman was getting into her car to leave the
scene she said, “If you really want to do something in this
situation then say a prayer.”
Ash estimated that deputies spent another five hours on
the second search, and says he doesn’t anticipate addi-
tional searches to occur.
The charges were initiated by a 13-year-old female
resident of Huntington whose name has also not been
released due to her age. Thus far, no other victims have
stepped forward. According to multiple residents, Witter
had frequent contact with a number of children.
Witter is currently in the Baker County Jail awaiting
arraignment in Baker County Circuit Court on the above
charges; however, Ash said Wednesday that he believes
there is a high likelihood additional charges to be added.
Witter is a registered sex offender in Oregon with a
conviction for Attempted Sex Abuse 1 in Multnomah
County from 2004.
In 2014, according to Ash, the Sheriff’s Department
Search and Rescue Team rescued Witter from the Pedro
Mountain area after he’d crashed his ATV.
“This is a very involved case,” said Ash. “We’re pro-
cessing it as fast as we can, but we really want to do a
thorough job.”
Parents with any concerns are encouraged to contact the
Baker County Sheriff’s Department.
Baker City
man killed in
Hwy. 7 crash
On November 14, 2015, at about 6:43 p.m., the Oregon
State Police Southern Command Center received a report
of a vehicle crash on Hwy. 7 at milepost 48 (near Baker
City).
OSP Troopers from the La Grande Area Command and
Baker County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene.
Preliminary information indicates a 2005 Toyota Camry,
operated by Kenneth Ammons Jr., age 69, from Baker
City, was traveling southbound when it left the roadway
for unknown reasons, traveled about 50 yards before roll-
ing several times.
Ammons was transported by ambulance to the Saint
Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City where he was
pronounced deceased.
This accident marks the second fatality on Hwy. 7
within a week.
Veterans memorial
grants available
The Oregon Heritage of Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department is offering grants for the construction or
restoration of veterans and war memorials.
"The program is designed to honor Oregon's soldiers
and veterans by commemorating their service to the
country," said Kuri Gill, coordinator for the program.
"Local governments may apply to build or repair monu-
ments on public land."
New monuments should recognize veterans and wars
not already recognized. Grants for restoration could be
used for broken monuments, missing elements of monu-
ments, or the related design elements of monuments for
veterans or earlier wars such as World War I.
Details and the application information are available
at http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/FINASST/Pages/
grants.aspx .
The application deadline is Dec. 15.
For more information, contact Kuri Gill at (503) 986-
0685 or Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov
Driver’s name
released in fatality
The family of the deceased driver from the single-
vehicle fatality crash into the Powder River on Hwy 7
near milepost 44.5 on November 11 outside Baker City
has been notified.
The driver of the 1988 Dodge Aries was identified as
Dale Gleason Larkin, age 51, of Prairie City.